B1 · 40 Wörter

Joining words

The conjunctions and connectors that turn correct short sentences into writing that reads as connected.

These are the highest-yield words on the site for anybody past the first year, because they are what separates a list of correct sentences from a paragraph. Three groups behave differently and it is worth sorting them on sight. The five coordinating conjunctions — und, aber, oder, denn, sondern — change nothing. Subordinating conjunctions send the verb to the end. And connecting adverbs take the first position themselves, so the verb follows them and the subject comes third.

Die Wörter

Adverb (10)

deshalbtherefore, soAdverbB1

Es regnete. Deshalb blieben wir zu Hause.It was raining, so we stayed at home.

An adverb, so the verb comes straight after it.

darumthat is whyAdverbB1

Darum habe ich abgesagt.That is why I cancelled.

dennochneverthelessAdverbB2

Er hat es versprochen. Dennoch kam er nicht.He promised. He still did not come.

zudemmoreoverAdverbC1

Zudem fehlt das Geld.What is more, the money is missing.

sonstotherwise, or elseAdverbB1

Beeil dich, sonst verpassen wir den Zug.Hurry up, or we will miss the train.

alsoso, thereforeAdverbA2

Also gehen wir doch.So we are going after all.

A false friend: it means "so", not English "also".

nämlichnamely, you seeAdverbB2

Er kann nicht, er ist nämlich krank.He cannot, you see he is ill.

Never stands first in the sentence.

zwaradmittedly, it is trueAdverbC1

Es ist zwar teuer, aber es hält.It is expensive, admittedly, but it lasts.

Almost always paired with a following aber.

erstensfirstlyAdverbB2

Erstens ist es zu spät, zweitens zu teuer.Firstly it is too late, secondly too expensive.

zweitenssecondlyAdverbB2

Zweitens hat niemand gefragt.Secondly, nobody asked.

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